Cranberry variety named &#39;CNJ95-20-20&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cranberry variety distinguished by very early season ripening, with exceptional early and high fruit anthocyanin (TAcy), as compared to the currently cultivated commercial varieties, with high fruit quality, and very suitable for the fresh fruit market.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was made in part with United States Government support awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, under grant SRG 88-34155-3491.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘CNJ95-20-20’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive American cranberry variety, ‘CNJ95-20-20’, having a desirable combination of traits for fresh market cranberries, including intense uniformly red to dark red fruit color in early season, extremely high anthocyanin (red pigment) content, a round to ovate berry, and exceptional fresh fruit quality relative to currently cultivated commercial varieties. The variety ‘CNJ95-20-20’ resulted from crossing the variety ‘Stevens’ (unpatented) as the seed parent, with the advanced selection ‘NJS98-37’ (unpatented) as the pollen parent (‘NJS98-37’ is derived from a ‘Franklin×Ben Lear’ cross, both unpatented). ‘CNJ95-20-20’ was originally selected from 26 progeny of this cross, growing in a breeding trial of 3400 progeny in Chatsworth, N.J.

The American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait) is a temperate, woody perennial plant species native to North America. The United States is the largest producer, with Wisconsin and Massachusetts representing the majority of cranberry acreage and production, followed by New Jersey, Oregon and Washington. Currently cultivated cranberry varieties include selections from native populations, and first and second generation hybrids. Significant acreage remains devoted to varieties that were selected from native cranberry populations from as far back as 1850, and include the cultivars ‘Ben Lear’ (unpatented), ‘Early Black’ (unpatented), ‘Howes’ (unpatented), ‘Lemunyon’ (unpatented), ‘McFarlin’ (unpatented) and ‘Searles’ (unpatented). First generation hybrid varieties were developed from one cycle of breeding and selection that was conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with state Agricultural Experiment Stations in the 1940's. This breeding program released a series of unpatented varieties in the 1950's including the most widely grown cultivar ‘Stevens’, which was selected from test plots in Pemberton, N.J. Recent introductions of second breeding cycle hybrids are now being planted and grown commercially.

The bulk of cranberry production is for the processed market, where varieties having high anthocyanin content, along with consistently high productivity, have become essential for commercial success. Another important cranberry market, however, is fresh fruit, where berry quality, including appearance and storage life are essential traits. A variety's crop productivity is a function of heritable traits such as stolon vigor, upright density, inflorescence bud production, fruit set and fruit size. Cultivars with high stolon vigor will establish more rapidly and reduce the number of years required to achieve maximal production. However, after bed establishment, the cultivar must transition to optimal sexual reproduction mode, and optimal upright density, to achieve high crop production. Cranberry inflorescence bud primordial, for the subsequent year's crop, are set on upright shoots during the fruit development and ripening period of the current season, and must overwinter in a dormant state, before resuming growth and flowering the following spring. Thus, the crop load of a given year, may impact the subsequent year's crop, contributing to the pronounced biennial bearing habit common to many cultivars. Productivity is also subject to environmental effects, e.g., heat and light intensity stresses, cold (frost) stress, water stress (drought and excess), disease, insects, certain pesticides, etc.

The characteristic color of cranberry arises from the synthesis of anthocyanins in the fruit epidermis during fruit ripening. Anthocyanin content is measured as TAcy (total anthocyanin), and is a fruit quality component of cranberry, having a minimum acceptable value. TAcy is measured as milligrams of anthocyanin per 100 g fruit using a standard extraction and spectrophotometric (520 nm) method. Earlier ripening varieties, which typically have higher TAcy values, and allows for an earlier season harvest of a crop. Since anthocyanins are largely located in the fruit epidermis, larger fruit generally having lower TAcy values per unit weight of fruit. The Rutgers University cranberry breeding program quantitatively measured TAcy along with mean fruit size, and selected progeny with large fruit size and high TAcy levels.

New Jersey uniquely offers an ideal environment for cranberry breeding because of the climate, soils and water. Of all the cranberry production areas in North America, New Jersey conditions subject the cranberry to the highest disease pressure and heat stress. The plant and developing fruit must tolerate high heat stress, and fruit and vegetative diseases during the growing season. Over 15 pathogens are known to incite cranberry fruit rot in New Jersey, and the fruit is also subject to heat scald and physiological breakdown. Thus, selection under New Jersey conditions offers the opportunity to identify varieties with higher resistance to disease, scald, and heat stress.

The Rutgers University cranberry breeding program, in Chatsworth, N.J., was initiated in 1985 to take advantage of this unique selection pressure. The program's methods were designed to duplicate, as practically as possible, the environment of a commercial bed. Thus, breeding plots of 1.5×1.5 m were established with multiple plants (typically one plant square ft.) and allowed to colonize area to form a dense canopy. Two to four years after planting, yield of a given plot was evaluated over a four year minimum to provide for biennial bearing assessment. Parental selection was based on field phenotypic performance, and parental cross combinations were based on the objectives of enhancing traits and/or combining the most desirable traits from both parents into one genotype, i.e., variety. Traits being evaluated in Rutgers University's cranberry breeding program include yield, ripening season, fruit rot susceptibility/resistance, storage life, scald, stolon and upright vigor, total anthocyanin content (TAcy), soluble solids (Brix), titratable acidity, and berry appearence.

The variety, ‘CNJ95-20-20’, described herein, resulted from a 1995 cross between the variety ‘Stevens’ as the seed parent, with ‘NJS98-37’ as the pollen parent. ‘NJS98-37’ is an advanced selection from a ‘Franklin×Ben Lear’ cross. ‘CNJ95-20-20’ was originally selected from 26 progeny growing in test plots in Chatsworth, N.J. for its early, uniform dark fruit color. In 2003, ‘CNJ95-20-20’ was planted in a replicated variety trial (3×3 m plots) in Chatsworth, N.J. for additional evaluation. ‘CNJ95-20-20’ was also planted in 2005 in a commercial bed (0.21 hectare) in Browns Mills, N.J. for evaluation of dry and wet harvest production. ‘CNJ95-20-20’ consistently produced superior quality, early-season fruit for the fresh fruit market. When dry-harvested, ‘CNJ95-20-20’ fruit maintains well in cold storage. ‘CNJ95-20-20’ is a new cranberry variety selected under New Jersey's stressful conditions, which offers the potential for high quality fruit for the fresh fruit market.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ‘CNJ95-20-20’ variety is distinguished from other cranberry varieties in having early season, uniformly dark fruit color, exceptional high fruit TAcy content, and moderate to large nearly round, ovate to widely ovate fruit shape facilitating sorting, and packaging. ‘CNJ95-20-20’ is most suitable for the fresh fruit market.

‘CNJ95-20-20’ has been asexually reproduced by cuttings at the Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension Center, NJAES, Rutgers University, Chatsworth, N.J. since 2002. Over that period, no evidence of off-types of ‘CNJ95-20-20’ has been observed or reported to us. Thus, it is concluded that ‘CNJ95-20-20’ is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following description describes the cranberry variety ‘CNJ95-20-20’. The original plant and vegetative propagules were observed in cranberry beds maintained with standard management practices for commercial cranberry production in Chatsworth and Browns Mills, Burlington County, N.J. Certain characteristics of this variety, such as growth and color, may change with changing environmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature, moisture, nutrient availability, or other factors). Color descriptions and other terminology are used in accordance with their ordinary dictionary descriptions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Color designations are made with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a digital image showing ‘CNJ95-20-20’ fruit after 5 months (Mar. 10, 2008) in cold storage from sample harvested Fall 2007 in Chatsworth, N.J.

FIG. 2 is a digital image showing representative fruit of ‘CNJ95-20-20’ displaying the variation in fruit size, shape and color; harvested Oct. 1, 2009 in Chatsworth, N.J. Note: oblique pedicel end in fruit, particularly, second row second and last column from left.

FIG. 3. is a digital image showing CNJ95-20-20 fruit harvested Oct. 1, 2009 exhibiting waxy bloom around calyx.

The colors of an illustration of this type may vary with lighting and other conditions, therefore, color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than from these illustrations alone.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the ‘CNJ95-20-20’ variety is based on observations of plants growing in the field in Chatsworth, N.J. and Browns Mills, N.J. The characteristics of the variety were compared to, ‘Stevens’ and ‘Ben Lear’ (both unpatented), two of the most widely cultivated cranberry varieties. The observed plantings were 3-6 years of age.

-   Scientific name: Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. -   Parentage:     -   -   Seed parent.—the variety ‘Stevens’ (derived from a             ‘McFarlin’×‘Potters’ cross).         -   Pollen parent.—the variety ‘NJS98-37’ (an advanced selection             from a ‘Franklin×Ben Lear’ cross). -   Plant:     -   -   Vigor.—General observations of ‘CNJ95-20-20’ plantings             indicate average plant vigor.         -   Growth habit.—trailing shrub with very slender stems.         -   Upright length.—8.7 cm to 9.7cm.         -   Stem diameter.—average stem diameter was 1.25 mm at base of             current year's growth. Internodes: average internode length             was 7.8 mm on 1-year old runners.         -   Productivity.—In established test plots in Chatsworth, N.J.,             ‘CNJ95-20-20’ yields comparably with Stevens and Ben Lear             (Table 1). ‘CNJ95-20-20’ produced an average of 222 g of             berries/sq. ft. (24 g/dm²) in comparison to ‘Steven’ yield             of 244 g/sq. ft. (27 g/dm²), and ‘Ben Lear’ yield of 299             g/sq. ft. (33 g/dm²) (4-year averages, see Table 1). In a             0.21 ha plot in a commercial bed, planted spring 2005,             ‘CNJ95-20-20’ yielded 171, 256 and 261 bbl/acre for the             years 2007-09, respectively.

TABLE 1 Mean fruit yield and berry weight of ‘CNJ95-20-20’ relative to ‘Stevens’ and ‘Ben Lear’ during 2006-2009, in Chatsworth, NJ. Yield g/sq. ft. Mean Fruit wt., g/berry 06-09 06-09 Cultivar 2006 2007 2008* 2009 Mean 2006 2007 2008* 2009 Mean** ‘CNJ95-20-20’ 192 252 184 267 224 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.6 2.4 ‘Stevens’ 156 326 278 217 244 2.5 2.5 2.0 2.3 2.4 ‘Ben Lear’ 158 277 227 299 240 2.1 2.5 2.0 2.8 2.5 *Fruit harvested August 17 due to hail damage **2008 data omitted

-   -   -   Hardiness.—Zones 4-7 (from USDA Misc. Publ. 814).         -   Disease Resistance.—no disease resistance data available for             foliar or root pathogens.

-   Leaves: The length, width and other measurements were obtained from     observations of 30 typical fully developed leaves in November of     2008 and 2009. Color was determined on actively growing plants.     -   -   Texture.—Coriaceous (leathery).         -   Length.—mean of 10.2 mm (2008-09), with a maximum 13 mm.         -   Width.—mean of 4.3 mm and 4.9 mm for 2008 and 2009,             respectively, with a maximum width of 6.0 mm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic (1.8:1 to 2.6:1 ratio).         -   Apex shape.—rounded.         -   Base shape.—rounded, nearly sessile.         -   Margin.—entire, slightly revolute.         -   Leaf Color.—Upper leaf surface color ranges from bright             green (143C, green group) in new growth to deep green in             mature leaves (139A to 137C, green group).         -   Pubescence.—non-glandular trichomes found along leaf margins             towards leaf apex.

-   Flowers:     -   -   Size and shape.—Slender, nodding flowers on erect pedicels             and in clusters of typically 3-6 flowers, having a mean of 4             flowers/upright; corolla long-conic in bud, petals divided             nearly to the base when open; typical open flower measuring             about 10 mm across.         -   Color.—Unopened bud: deep pink (68C, red-purple group).             Opened flower: pale pink (69C & D, red-purple group).         -   Petals.—4 petals per flower; narrow and revolute in shape.         -   Bloom season.—Bloom typically begins in early June and             continues throughout the month, depending on the season.             Peak bloom for ‘CNJ95-20-20’ is similar to Stevens. On Jun.             18, 2009 in Chatsworth, N.J., ‘CNJ95-20-20’ had reached 73%             bloom while Stevens was 74% in bloom.         -   Mean number of flowers per upright.—4.0.

-   Fruit: Observations are from 30 typical fruit harvested from test     plots in Chatsworth, N.J. and Browns Mills, N.J., Oct. 5, 2009.     -   -   Shape.—Ovate to very widely ovate to occasionally             elliptical, with rounded to moderately oblique pedicle end             (FIGS. 1 and 2); fruit length to width ratio of 1:1.1 to             1:1.2; calyx end slightly rounded to slightly flat with             exerted calyx lobes (FIG. 2).         -   Size.—In NJ, average size was 1.8-2.0 cm long and 1.5-1.7 cm             wide.         -   Skin.—shiny, waxy bloom around calyx (FIG. 3), otherwise             with slight scattered waxy bloom on lower (calyx) half.         -   Color.—ranged from 46A (red group) for the lightest berries,             185A (greyed-purple group) for medium berries, to N186A             (greyed-purple group) for the darkest (harvested fall 2007).         -   Stem pit.—medium in width and slightly indented (1.2 mm in             diameter for ‘CNJ95-20-20’ and 1.3 mm for Stevens).         -   Average weight.—In NJ, a 30 berry sample had a mean berry             weight of 2.4 g with a maximum berry weight of 3.2 g; Fruit             collected yearly from 1 ft² samples in test plots had an             average weight of 2.3 to 2.6 g in NJ (Table 1).         -   Number of seeds.—Mean seed number per fruit was 19             (location 1) and 24 (location 2); a maximum of 42             seeds/fruit was observed.         -   Fruit Chemistry.—100 g samples of fruit were harvested each             year from test plots in Chatsworth, N.J. and evaluated for             fruit chemistry. ‘CNJ95-20-20’ mean TAcy values were twice             those of Ben Lear in September, and 1.4 to 2 times greater             in October (Table 2). ‘CNJ95-20-20’ TAcy values were three             to seven times greater than ‘Stevens’ in September, and             three to four times greater in October (Table 2).             ‘CNJ95-20-20’ had titratable acidity values (2.2% vs. 2.5%)             and Brix values (8.6% vs. 9.2%) similar to ‘Stevens’.

Table 2 Fruit total anthocyanin content of ‘CNJ95-20-20’ relative to ‘Stevens’ and Ben Lear during 2006-2009, in Chatsworth, NJ. Tacy, mg/100 g fruit 2009 Cultivar Sep. 22, 2006 Oct. 2 2007 Sep. 15 Oct. 15 ‘CNJ95-20- 59 56 62 75 20’ ‘Stevens’ 18 20  9 18 ‘Ben Lear’ 32 39 30 40

-   -   -   Fruit production.—‘CNJ95-20-20’ season is very early. Fruit             harvested in mid-September in New Jersey yields a Tacy of             over 50 mg/100 g, exhibiting the earliest color development,             much ahead of the early cultivar Ben Lear. Average             production was 200 to 250 g of berries/ft² in NJ test plots.             The 0.21 ha plot under commercial conditions yielded up to             261 barrels/acre.         -   Usage.—most suitable for fresh fruit market.         -   Disease Resistance.—In New Jersey, where disease pressure is             severe, ‘CNJ95-20-20’ had an average of less than 10% fruit             rot (2006-2008). ‘CNJ95-20-20’ appears to hold very well in             storage for late fresh market sales. 

1. A new and distinct variety of cranberry plant, substantially as herein shown and described. 